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What Is The Most Common Grammatical Error Made By Educated People Today?
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Clyde Armstrong
Dec 2, 2011, 1:02:30 PM12/2/11
to
It used to be using the tautological, unacceptable, non-existent
adjective "irregardless" in place of the correct word "regardless".
But one hardly ever hears that mistake any more. This is good.
Today many fairly-well educated politicians, bureaucrats, teachers at
all level, media celebrities
etc. mispronounce the word "forte" (one's strong point) as "fortay"
which is a musical term meaning strong or
loud. The musical term is spelled the same way, "forte", but must,
according to our good dictionaries, be prononced "fortay", not "fort".
If one is referring to a person's strengh in some area the word
"forte" must be
pronounced "fort".
So whenever you hear a person say "fortay" when he/she is describing a
person's "strong point, correct him
He will silently thank you for it, but not for the embarrassment.
Today by far the most common and annoying grammatical mistake,
however, is made by people who should know better. They confuse the
transitive verb "lay" (meaning "to place"), with the intransitive verb
"lie" (meaning "to recline").
How often to you hear on TV, the radio, movies or in real life some
person say "I found the body laying in the
alleyway". It should be of course, " I found the body lying (i.e.
reclining) in the alleyway"
.
The correct form is "I was lying down" when the phone rang, not I was
"laying down".
It is "I lay the book on the table", not "I lie the book on the
table".
Here are the infinitves, first person present tense, first person past
tense and the present and past particples of the verbs "lie" and
"lay".
Transitive: i) to lie down, ii) I lie down, iii) yesterday I lay
down, iii) I am lying down iv) I had been lying down
Intransitive: ii) to lay ii) I lay the down iii) yesterday I laid
the book down iii) I am laying the book down iv) I have laid the book
down
Get this straight. As George Owell wrote: "Sloppy language leads to
sloppy thinking, and sloppy thinking leads to sloppy politics"-- or
words to that effect.
adjective "irregardless" in place of the correct word "regardless".
But one hardly ever hears that mistake any more. This is good.
Today many fairly-well educated politicians, bureaucrats, teachers at
all level, media celebrities
etc. mispronounce the word "forte" (one's strong point) as "fortay"
which is a musical term meaning strong or
loud. The musical term is spelled the same way, "forte", but must,
according to our good dictionaries, be prononced "fortay", not "fort".
If one is referring to a person's strengh in some area the word
"forte" must be
pronounced "fort".
So whenever you hear a person say "fortay" when he/she is describing a
person's "strong point, correct him
He will silently thank you for it, but not for the embarrassment.
Today by far the most common and annoying grammatical mistake,
however, is made by people who should know better. They confuse the
transitive verb "lay" (meaning "to place"), with the intransitive verb
"lie" (meaning "to recline").
How often to you hear on TV, the radio, movies or in real life some
person say "I found the body laying in the
alleyway". It should be of course, " I found the body lying (i.e.
reclining) in the alleyway"
.
The correct form is "I was lying down" when the phone rang, not I was
"laying down".
It is "I lay the book on the table", not "I lie the book on the
table".
Here are the infinitves, first person present tense, first person past
tense and the present and past particples of the verbs "lie" and
"lay".
Transitive: i) to lie down, ii) I lie down, iii) yesterday I lay
down, iii) I am lying down iv) I had been lying down
Intransitive: ii) to lay ii) I lay the down iii) yesterday I laid
the book down iii) I am laying the book down iv) I have laid the book
down
Get this straight. As George Owell wrote: "Sloppy language leads to
sloppy thinking, and sloppy thinking leads to sloppy politics"-- or
words to that effect.
Erik©
Dec 2, 2011, 1:31:25 PM12/2/11
to
Clyde Armstrong wrote...
>
> It used to be using the tautological, unacceptable, non-existent
> adjective "irregardless" in place of the correct word "regardless".
> But one hardly ever hears that mistake any more. This is good.
>
> Today many fairly-well educated politicians, bureaucrats, teachers at
> all level, media celebrities
> etc. mispronounce the word "forte" (one's strong point) as "fortay"
> which is a musical term meaning strong or
> loud. The musical term is spelled the same way, "forte", but must,
> according to our good dictionaries, be prononced "fortay", not "fort".
> If one is referring to a person's strengh in some area the word
> "forte" must be
> pronounced "fort".
>
> So whenever you hear a person say "fortay" when he/she is describing a
> person's "strong point, correct him
> He will silently thank you for it, but not for the embarrassment.
>
> Today by far the most common and annoying grammatical mistake,
> however, is made by people who should know better. They confuse the
> transitive verb "lay" (meaning "to place"), with the intransitive verb
> "lie" (meaning "to recline").
>
> How often to you hear on TV, the radio, movies or in real life some
> person say "I found the body laying in the
> alleyway". It should be of course, " I found the body lying (i.e.
> reclining) in the alleyway"
I think you're laying, JR.
> It used to be using the tautological, unacceptable, non-existent
> adjective "irregardless" in place of the correct word "regardless".
> But one hardly ever hears that mistake any more. This is good.
>
> Today many fairly-well educated politicians, bureaucrats, teachers at
> all level, media celebrities
> etc. mispronounce the word "forte" (one's strong point) as "fortay"
> which is a musical term meaning strong or
> loud. The musical term is spelled the same way, "forte", but must,
> according to our good dictionaries, be prononced "fortay", not "fort".
> If one is referring to a person's strengh in some area the word
> "forte" must be
> pronounced "fort".
>
> So whenever you hear a person say "fortay" when he/she is describing a
> person's "strong point, correct him
> He will silently thank you for it, but not for the embarrassment.
>
> Today by far the most common and annoying grammatical mistake,
> however, is made by people who should know better. They confuse the
> transitive verb "lay" (meaning "to place"), with the intransitive verb
> "lie" (meaning "to recline").
>
> How often to you hear on TV, the radio, movies or in real life some
> person say "I found the body laying in the
> alleyway". It should be of course, " I found the body lying (i.e.
> reclining) in the alleyway"
Viejo Vizcacha
Dec 2, 2011, 1:38:44 PM12/2/11
to
VV
M.I. Wakefield
Dec 2, 2011, 2:48:04 PM12/2/11
to
"Erik©" wrote in message
news:MPG.2942b9551...@news.eternal-september.org...
==================
But it's good to see Lambourn finally post on a topic that he has some
qualifications for: high school grammar checking.
news:MPG.2942b9551...@news.eternal-september.org...
But it's good to see Lambourn finally post on a topic that he has some
qualifications for: high school grammar checking.
Roy
Dec 2, 2011, 2:58:06 PM12/2/11
to
On Friday, December 2, 2011 11:02:30 AM UTC-7, Clyde Armstrong wrote:
>
> Get this straight. As George Owell wrote: "Sloppy language leads to
> sloppy thinking, and sloppy thinking leads to sloppy politics"-- or
> words to that effect.
Having a flashback to when you taught school? Obviously drunk as usual.
>
> Get this straight. As George Owell wrote: "Sloppy language leads to
> sloppy thinking, and sloppy thinking leads to sloppy politics"-- or
> words to that effect.
Chom Noamsky
Dec 2, 2011, 3:35:17 PM12/2/11
to
Clyde Armstrong
Dec 2, 2011, 7:34:47 PM12/2/11
to
On Dec 2, 1:31 pm, Erik <e...@null.ca> wrote:
>
> - Show quoted text -
Then there is the modern vernacular use of "lay" as a synonym for
fuck. For instance in Victoria B.C, one might be heard to say, "Did
you hear the latest rumor, that liberal David Reilley (Deilley) got
laid by a homeless man in a downtown park?
David Deilley (Reilley) got laid by a homeless man in a downtown park.
Clyde Armstrong
Dec 2, 2011, 7:55:43 PM12/2/11
to
>
> - Show quoted text -
Over the years I have made many errors in spelling and grammar myself.
> - Show quoted text -
But I am not being pretentious in writing that the confusion between
the two different verbs "to lie" (i.e. recline) and "to lay" (i.e. to
place something") is inexcusable. It annoys me. After all, this basic
grammar is not rocket science.
M.I. Wakefield
Dec 2, 2011, 8:49:15 PM12/2/11
to
"Clyde Armstrong" wrote in message
news:3c6de7b8-9bbb-40fc...@h3g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
Snip!
> Then there is the modern vernacular use of "lay" as a synonym for
> fuck. For instance in Victoria B.C, one might be heard to say, "Did
> you hear the latest rumor, that liberal David Reilley (Deilley) got
> laid by a homeless man in a downtown park?
> David Deilley (Reilley) got laid by a homeless man in a downtown park.
For newcomers, David Deilley is one of Lambourn's odd obsessions. Deilly is
a twelve-foot-long imaginary hedgehog, but when Lambourn is upset, Deilley
can be anything up to 800 yards long.
news:3c6de7b8-9bbb-40fc...@h3g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
Snip!
> Then there is the modern vernacular use of "lay" as a synonym for
> fuck. For instance in Victoria B.C, one might be heard to say, "Did
> you hear the latest rumor, that liberal David Reilley (Deilley) got
> laid by a homeless man in a downtown park?
> David Deilley (Reilley) got laid by a homeless man in a downtown park.
a twelve-foot-long imaginary hedgehog, but when Lambourn is upset, Deilley
can be anything up to 800 yards long.
Rightard Whitey
Dec 2, 2011, 8:57:47 PM12/2/11
to
language until 18th century grammarians latinized it. Now the language
is no longer phonetic and has numerous irregular verbs.
jane
Dec 2, 2011, 10:39:35 PM12/2/11
to
On Dec 2, 7:55 pm, Clyde Armstrong <clayno...@gmail.com> wrote:
People consistantly use "who" when they should say "whom".
People make a double mistake when they say "I and John" as an object
when they should have said "John and me".
People say, "I could care less" when they couldn't care less.
The worst mistake in these News Groups is when people use the verb
"cite" as a noun.
The abuses are so plentiful because we have hired idiots to teach our
children.
M.I. Wakefield
Dec 2, 2011, 11:23:59 PM12/2/11
to
"jane" wrote in message
news:6684f0ee-12f4-48d8...@p16g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
Snip!
> The abuses are so plentiful because we have hired idiots to teach our
> children.
As a GDHS alumnus, you'll get no arguments from me.
news:6684f0ee-12f4-48d8...@p16g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
Snip!
> The abuses are so plentiful because we have hired idiots to teach our
> children.
Churchill
Dec 3, 2011, 12:19:01 AM12/3/11
to
"Lying" is the proper way. But they get confused because you can lie
down, or lay down.
No one says "Laying", not even you.
Please provide an example of someone using "Laying".
And George Orwell was a socialist, so why are you quoting him?
Shouldn't you be quoting Von Mises?
Churchill
Dec 3, 2011, 12:24:23 AM12/3/11
to
point. I know of no one who spells it "Fortay"?
Not even people in the deep south of the USA. You will find those in
Louisiana and Quebec who spell it differently.
This mispronunciation has become so wide-spread that it’s on its way
to establishing itself as an acceptable variation. The error has
arisen from the fact that there are two “fortes” in English, each with
a different pronunciation.
forte /for tay/
Adverb (or adjective) meaning “strong” or “loud.” This word comes into
English from Italian and is used chiefly in a musical context. Ex.
Play this measure forte /for-tay/.
forte /fort/
Noun meaning “strong point,” “strength.” This word comes into English
from French. Ex. Housekeeping is not my forte /fort/.
INTERESTING TRIVIA: The word forte /fort/ can refer to the strongest
part of a sword blade, i.e., the part nearest the hilt. The weakest
part of the blade, the part between the tip and the middle, is called
the foible. Just as a forte is a person’s strong point, a foible is a
(minor) weakness. Ex. His chief foible is buying every new electronic
gadget as soon as it comes out.
Two other French words that give some speakers trouble are cache and
cachet.
Not long ago I heard an NPR announcer speak of a “cache of weapons.”
She pronounced cache as /ka shay/.
The word cache is pronounced /kash/. A cache is a hidden hoard. It’s
probably from the French verb cacher, “to hide.” Early explorers would
hide food and supplies for the return journey. The hidden supplies
were called a cache. Among the many place names left by French
explorers in the state of Arkansas is that of the Cache River.
cachet /ka shay/ is from the same French verb. As a noun cachet is
literally a stamp or a seal. Figuratively it has come to mean
“approval.” Ex. The plans for the new sewer system carry the Mayor’s
cachet. Cachet can also mean “mark of distinction.” Ex. Driving a
Rolls bestows a certain cachet.
gordo
Dec 3, 2011, 1:41:58 AM12/3/11
to
On Fri, 2 Dec 2011 23:23:59 -0500, "M.I. Wakefield" <none@present>
wrote:
How many ways is the word fun used?
wrote:
Charles Montgomery Burns
Dec 3, 2011, 3:47:53 AM12/3/11
to
suck in the insolent Rednecks back in the good old days of Enoch
"Nucky" Thomson" and his booze!
Clyde Armstrong
Dec 3, 2011, 9:33:49 AM12/3/11
to
On Dec 3, 1:41 am, gordo <grmerr...@shaw.ca.remove> wrote:
> On Fri, 2 Dec 2011 23:23:59 -0500, "M.I. Wakefield" <none@present>
> wrote:
>
Mr. Wakefield, did you not get any edification out of having to read
> wrote:
>
Thomas Hardy's "The Mayor of Casterbridge", F.Scott
Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" or Shakespeare's "Hamlet" or "Macbeth?
The some of the books I read in high school turned my life around, for
the better. They were more important and influential than the opinions
and biases of many of the kooky, ill-educated teachers that I had.
GDHS is under the Halton County District Board of Education. Halton's
schools were recently rated the best in the GTA by the Fraser
Institute.
Viejo Vizcacha
Dec 3, 2011, 12:37:22 PM12/3/11
to
speaking country. My wife and I have plenty of relatives there, and I
have noted something both there and here: those who finished primary
school before 1970, have a good grasp of grammar, event those who did
not finish high school. But, those born in the 70's and after, even
when they attended post secundary education, have a poor grasp of
grammar, and make mistakes that would be unthinkable in the older
crowd.
I suspect that reading lots of books, even trash novels or pulp
fiction, helped people to write better, while an exclusive diet of
comic books and television programmes did not.
VV
Rightard Whitey
Dec 3, 2011, 2:00:20 PM12/3/11
to
many who are native born. But the English language is an oddball for a
Germanic language in that it is not phonetic. There are also quite a
few grammar rules that could be thrown out.
David Johnston
Dec 3, 2011, 9:49:42 PM12/3/11
to
>> The worst mistake in these News Groups is when people use the verb
>> "cite" as a noun.
any verb I damn well want to.
Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names
Dec 3, 2011, 10:21:50 PM12/3/11
to
How many times have you heard some say that a particularly disturbing
sight or incident "Made me nauseous!"
No, it made you nauseated.
If you are nauseous, then, you are making other people nauseated.
Nauseous is an adjective, meaning " causing nausea or disgust." Thus,
if you are nauseous, then, you cause nausea or disgust.
Nauseauted (actually, nauseate) is an intransitive verb meaning to
become affected with nausea. Thus, if you encounter a disgusting
scene or incident, you become nauseated, or, affected with nausea.
yp
Dec 3, 2011, 10:28:09 PM12/3/11
to
On Dec 2, 1:02 pm, Clyde Armstrong <clayno...@gmail.com> wrote:
> It used to be using the tautological, unacceptable, non-existent
> adjective "irregardless" in place of the correct word "regardless".
> But one hardly ever hears that mistake any more. This is good.
>
> Today many fairly-well educated politicians, bureaucrats, teachers at
> all level, media celebrities
> etc. mispronounce the word "forte" (one's strong point) as "fortay"
> which is a musical term meaning strong or
> loud. The musical term is spelled the same way, "forte", but must,
> according to our good dictionaries, be prononced "fortay", not "fort".
> If one is referring to a person's strengh in some area the word
> "forte" must be
> pronounced "fort".
>
> So whenever you hear a person say "fortay" when he/she is describing a
> person's "strong point, correct him
> He will silently thank you for it, but not for the embarrassment.
>
The pronunciation of "forte" as "fortey" or "fortei" is quite correct.
> It used to be using the tautological, unacceptable, non-existent
> adjective "irregardless" in place of the correct word "regardless".
> But one hardly ever hears that mistake any more. This is good.
>
> Today many fairly-well educated politicians, bureaucrats, teachers at
> all level, media celebrities
> etc. mispronounce the word "forte" (one's strong point) as "fortay"
> which is a musical term meaning strong or
> loud. The musical term is spelled the same way, "forte", but must,
> according to our good dictionaries, be prononced "fortay", not "fort".
> If one is referring to a person's strengh in some area the word
> "forte" must be
> pronounced "fort".
>
> So whenever you hear a person say "fortay" when he/she is describing a
> person's "strong point, correct him
> He will silently thank you for it, but not for the embarrassment.
>
Check any good dictionary, such as the New Oxford Dictionary of
English. The word comes from the French ford "forté" which is
pronounced "fortey" or "fortei". Since in English accents are not
used, the accent on the "e" at the end of the word was dropped, but
the French pronunciation was kept. So before you start teaching
others, make sure that you know what you are talking about.
David Johnston
Dec 3, 2011, 11:14:25 PM12/3/11
to
On 12/2/2011 11:02 AM, Clyde Armstrong wrote:
> It used to be using the tautological, unacceptable, non-existent
> adjective "irregardless" in place of the correct word "regardless".
> But one hardly ever hears that mistake any more. This is good.
>
> Today many fairly-well educated politicians, bureaucrats, teachers at
> all level, media celebrities
> etc. mispronounce the word "forte" (one's strong point) as "fortay"
> which is a musical term meaning strong or
> loud. The musical term is spelled the same way, "forte", but must,
> according to our good dictionaries, be prononced "fortay", not "fort".
> If one is referring to a person's strengh in some area the word
> "forte" must be
> pronounced "fort".
Please provide the name of a dictionary that says it must be pronounced
> It used to be using the tautological, unacceptable, non-existent
> adjective "irregardless" in place of the correct word "regardless".
> But one hardly ever hears that mistake any more. This is good.
>
> Today many fairly-well educated politicians, bureaucrats, teachers at
> all level, media celebrities
> etc. mispronounce the word "forte" (one's strong point) as "fortay"
> which is a musical term meaning strong or
> loud. The musical term is spelled the same way, "forte", but must,
> according to our good dictionaries, be prononced "fortay", not "fort".
> If one is referring to a person's strengh in some area the word
> "forte" must be
> pronounced "fort".
"fort".
Charles Montgomery Burns
Dec 4, 2011, 12:39:57 AM12/4/11
to
A lot of idiots use 'site'.
Cite is the short form. for "citation".
And what is wrong with that?
"Cite" has meaning.
SaPeIsMa
Dec 4, 2011, 1:12:20 AM12/4/11
to
"David Johnston" <Da...@block.net> wrote in message
news:jbes32$p6d$1...@dont-email.me...
Look up the word on http://www.merriam-webster.com
Here's the link
http://www.merriam-webster.com/audio.php?file=fort0001&word=forte&text=%5C%3Cspan%20class%3D%22unicode%22%3E%CB%88%3C%2Fspan%3Ef%3Cspan%20class%3D%22unicode%22%3Eo%CC%87%3C%2Fspan%3Ert%3B%20%3Cem%3E2%20is%20often%3C%2Fem%3E%20%3Cspan%20class%3D%22unicode%22%3E%CB%88%3C%2Fspan%3Ef%3Cspan%20class%3D%22unicode%22%3Eo%CC%87%3C%2Fspan%3Er-%3Cspan%20class%3D%22unicode%22%3E%CB%8C%3C%2Fspan%3Et%C4%81%20%3Cem%3Eor%3C%2Fem%3E%20f%3Cspan%20class%3D%22unicode%22%3Eo%CC%87%3C%2Fspan%3Er-%3Cspan%20class%3D%22unicode%22%3E%CB%88%3C%2Fspan%3Et%C4%81%20%3Cem%3Eor%3C%2Fem%3E%20%3Cspan%20class%3D%22unicode%22%3E%CB%88%3C%2Fspan%3Ef%3Cspan%20class%3D%22unicode%22%3Eo%CC%87%3C%2Fspan%3Er-t%C4%93%5C
David Johnston
Dec 4, 2011, 1:17:29 AM12/4/11
to
On 12/3/2011 10:39 PM, Charles Montgomery Burns wrote:
> On Dec 3, 9:49 pm, David Johnston<Da...@block.net> wrote:
>>>> The worst mistake in these News Groups is when people use the verb
>>>> "cite" as a noun.
>>
>> Mistakes happen by accident. Neologisms happen by choice. I'll noun
>> any verb I damn well want to.
>
> Actually (which is like starting a sentence with "because")
I regularly have to go back and delete that tic from my writing before
> On Dec 3, 9:49 pm, David Johnston<Da...@block.net> wrote:
>>>> The worst mistake in these News Groups is when people use the verb
>>>> "cite" as a noun.
>>
>> Mistakes happen by accident. Neologisms happen by choice. I'll noun
>> any verb I damn well want to.
>
> Actually (which is like starting a sentence with "because")
sending.
> A lot of idiots use 'site'.
SaPeIsMa
Dec 4, 2011, 1:16:59 AM12/4/11
to
http://www.larousse.com/en/dictionaries/french/forte
The "fortay" pronunciation must be a literal misread/mispronunciation of the
French word..
Barry Bruyea
Dec 4, 2011, 5:11:43 AM12/4/11
to
grammar I hear from many people wouldn't have received a D in a public
school test years ago. And that infamous word 'irregardless' was used
twice in a single newscast on CTV London a few weeks ago and that
wasn't the first time I've heard it used on the evening news.
Barry Bruyea
Dec 4, 2011, 5:13:54 AM12/4/11
to
"Fort"; their choice.
SaPeIsMa
Dec 4, 2011, 7:47:06 AM12/4/11
to
news:jbf39n$bos$4...@dont-email.me...
> On 12/3/2011 10:39 PM, Charles Montgomery Burns wrote:
>> On Dec 3, 9:49 pm, David Johnston<Da...@block.net> wrote:
>>>>> The worst mistake in these News Groups is when people use the verb
>>>>> "cite" as a noun.
>>>
>
>> On Dec 3, 9:49 pm, David Johnston<Da...@block.net> wrote:
>>>>> The worst mistake in these News Groups is when people use the verb
>>>>> "cite" as a noun.
>>>
>
>> A lot of idiots use 'site'.
>
> Yes, that one that doesn't make the person doing it look good at all.
>
>>
Although, if they are asking for a web >>site<< as a source, it may not be.
>
> Yes, that one that doesn't make the person doing it look good at all.
>
>>
jane
Dec 4, 2011, 2:17:39 PM12/4/11
to
On Dec 4, 12:39 am, Charles Montgomery Burns <adrastea2...@live.com>
wrote:
"Cite" is a verb, "citation" is a noun. A person can "cite a
citation", but saying "he is citing a cite" would be just as wrong as
saying "he is citation a citation".
Language changes over time and what was once wrong, becomes correct
through common usage. However, it is best to refrain from joining the
ignorant too soon.
wrote:
citation", but saying "he is citing a cite" would be just as wrong as
saying "he is citation a citation".
Language changes over time and what was once wrong, becomes correct
through common usage. However, it is best to refrain from joining the
ignorant too soon.
jane
Dec 4, 2011, 2:36:43 PM12/4/11
to
On Dec 3, 9:49 pm, David Johnston <Da...@block.net> wrote:
"transistor" was a new word that was added in the late 40s by choice.
Using the verb "cite" as a noun is usage through ignorance. Languages
change over time and "cite" will be accepted as common usage over
time.
You can use any word at any time if you choose, but it is wisest to
side with the educated rather than the idiots until the misuse becomes
common and accepted.
Erik©
Dec 4, 2011, 3:01:13 PM12/4/11
to
jane wrote...
Another one that bothers me (I used to see it committed by government workers
often) is using the verb "advise" instead of the noun "advice".
often) is using the verb "advise" instead of the noun "advice".
David Johnston
Dec 4, 2011, 3:44:24 PM12/4/11
to
On 12/4/2011 12:36 PM, jane wrote:
> On Dec 3, 9:49 pm, David Johnston<Da...@block.net> wrote:
>>>> The worst mistake in these News Groups is when people use the verb
>>>> "cite" as a noun.
>>
>> Mistakes happen by accident. Neologisms happen by choice. I'll noun
>> any verb I damn well want to.
>
> Neologisms happen by educated choice and by ignorance. For example,
> "transistor" was a new word that was added in the late 40s by choice.
> Using the verb "cite" as a noun is usage through ignorance.
Really. Nobody ever does it to save on typing?
> On Dec 3, 9:49 pm, David Johnston<Da...@block.net> wrote:
>>>> The worst mistake in these News Groups is when people use the verb
>>>> "cite" as a noun.
>>
>> Mistakes happen by accident. Neologisms happen by choice. I'll noun
>> any verb I damn well want to.
>
> Neologisms happen by educated choice and by ignorance. For example,
> "transistor" was a new word that was added in the late 40s by choice.
> Using the verb "cite" as a noun is usage through ignorance.
Bert
Dec 4, 2011, 3:53:47 PM12/4/11
to
In
news:6684f0ee-12f4-48d8...@p16g2000yqd.googlegroups.com
Surely you're not confused by such use.
> The abuses are so plentiful because we have hired idiots to teach our
> children.
Do you really believe that teachers the world over are telling their
students to use the word "cite" as a noun?
Maybe you ARE confused.
--
be...@iphouse.com St. Paul, MN
news:6684f0ee-12f4-48d8...@p16g2000yqd.googlegroups.com
jane <jane....@gmail.com> wrote:
> The worst mistake in these News Groups is when people use the verb
> "cite" as a noun.
They're simply using it as a short form for "citation."
> The worst mistake in these News Groups is when people use the verb
> "cite" as a noun.
Surely you're not confused by such use.
> The abuses are so plentiful because we have hired idiots to teach our
> children.
students to use the word "cite" as a noun?
Maybe you ARE confused.
--
be...@iphouse.com St. Paul, MN
simplicity
Dec 4, 2011, 3:56:02 PM12/4/11
to
the acceptable norm.
Y 2 b so backward? U r not going to stop the progress anyway.
Ramon F. Herrera
Dec 4, 2011, 4:19:47 PM12/4/11
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- Complement ("complemento" exists in Spanish) vs. compliment (does
not).
- Principal vs. principle
I have a hard time differentiating "mayor" vs. "major", and "warranty"
vs. "guarantee".
A lot of English speakers misuse "its" and "it's".
-Ramon
Ramon F. Herrera
Dec 4, 2011, 4:21:57 PM12/4/11
to
-RFH
Ramon F. Herrera
Dec 4, 2011, 4:26:44 PM12/4/11
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On Dec 3, 9:21 pm, Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names
"Flammable" and "inflammable" mean the same thing.
Both Jewish and Arabs are Semites, and yet "anti-Semite" only refers
to Jews.
If you want non-ambiguous, formally defined languages, stick to
computer languages.
-Ramon
Both Jewish and Arabs are Semites, and yet "anti-Semite" only refers
to Jews.
If you want non-ambiguous, formally defined languages, stick to
computer languages.
-Ramon
Ramon F. Herrera
Dec 4, 2011, 4:32:51 PM12/4/11
to
"estatua" vs. "estatuto") making them very easy to catch.
-RFH
gordo
Dec 4, 2011, 4:48:04 PM12/4/11
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On Sun, 4 Dec 2011 11:36:43 -0800 (PST), jane <jane....@gmail.com>
wrote:
Here is a site where you can find the cite. I did post the cite here
and another site there. Here a cite there a site. Can you give me a
cite for that? Why certainly
http://grammar.about.com/od/words/a/citegloss.htm
wrote:
and another site there. Here a cite there a site. Can you give me a
cite for that? Why certainly
http://grammar.about.com/od/words/a/citegloss.htm
Ramon F. Herrera
Dec 4, 2011, 4:48:15 PM12/4/11
to
use of the terms are "matter of dispute". I tend to follow similar
words:
- gaseous
- preposterous
and thus accept "nauseous" as an adjective.
-RFH
http://www.nndb.com/people/481/000023412/
-------------------------------------------
Google define:
nau·seous/ˈnôSHəs/
Adjective:
Affected with nausea; inclined to vomit.
Causing nausea; offensive to the taste or smell.
-------------------------------------------
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nauseous
-------------------------------------------
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nauseous
Usage note
The two literal senses of nauseous, “causing nausea” ( a nauseous
smell ) and “affected with nausea” ( to feel nauseous ), appear in
English at almost the same time in the early 17th century, and both
senses are in standard use at the present time. Nauseous is more
common than nauseated in the sense “affected with nausea,” despite
recent objections by those who imagine the sense to be new. In the
sense “causing nausea,” either literally or figuratively, nauseating
has become more common than nauseous : a nauseating smell.
-------------------------------------------
http://www.answers.com/topic/nauseous
USAGE NOTE Traditional critics have insisted that nauseous is
properly used only to mean "causing nausea" and that it is incorrect
to use it to mean "affected with nausea," as in Roller coasters make
me nauseous. In this example, nauseated is preferred by 72 percent of
the Usage Panel. Curiously, though, 88 percent of the Panelists prefer
using nauseating in the sentence The children looked a little green
from too many candy apples and nauseating (not nauseous) rides. Since
there is a lot of evidence to show that nauseous is widely used to
mean "feeling sick," it appears that people use nauseous mainly in the
sense in which it is considered incorrect. In its "correct" sense it
is being supplanted by nauseating.
-------------------------------------------
M.I. Wakefield
Dec 4, 2011, 4:53:22 PM12/4/11
to
"Ramon F. Herrera" wrote in message
news:3bbdcb04-5dcf-4ff5...@g21g2000yqc.googlegroups.com...
Snip!
> If you want non-ambiguous, formally defined languages, stick to
> computer languages.
Or Turkish ... IIRC, it has no irregular verbs.
And stay away from Finnish and Hungarian ... supposedly the most difficult
for native speakers to master ... it's been suggested that this contributes
to the high suicide rates in both countries.
news:3bbdcb04-5dcf-4ff5...@g21g2000yqc.googlegroups.com...
Snip!
> If you want non-ambiguous, formally defined languages, stick to
> computer languages.
And stay away from Finnish and Hungarian ... supposedly the most difficult
for native speakers to master ... it's been suggested that this contributes
to the high suicide rates in both countries.
Ramon F. Herrera
Dec 4, 2011, 4:59:55 PM12/4/11
to
On Dec 2, 9:39 pm, jane <jane.pla...@gmail.com> wrote:
the office" is grammatically correct, albeit a transgression of
politeness and etiquette.
-Ramon
> You have just touched the surface.
>
> People consistantly use "who" when they should say "whom".
>
> People make a double mistake when they say "I and John"
> as an object when they should have said "John and me".
That is not a double mistake, it's a single one: "I and John went to
>
> People consistantly use "who" when they should say "whom".
>
> People make a double mistake when they say "I and John"
> as an object when they should have said "John and me".
the office" is grammatically correct, albeit a transgression of
politeness and etiquette.
-Ramon
Ramon F. Herrera
Dec 4, 2011, 5:08:51 PM12/4/11
to
Both Jews and Arabs are Semites, and yet "anti-Semite" only refers to
Jews.
-Ramon
jane
Dec 5, 2011, 12:28:24 PM12/5/11
to
made by Woody on the TV show Cheers, where Woody said, "Boy! I learned
THAT one the hard way"
jane
Dec 5, 2011, 1:54:39 PM12/5/11
to
just plain bad grammar.
As I said in my first post, we hire idiots to teach our children.
Once we have hired these idiots, it is virtually impossible to fire
them.
§pamÐuster
Dec 8, 2011, 8:07:05 PM12/8/11
to
"M.I. Wakefield" <none@present> wrote in message
news:xefCq.159645$We5.1...@unlimited.newshosting.com...
> "Clyde Armstrong" wrote in message
> news:3c6de7b8-9bbb-40fc...@h3g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
>
> Snip!
>
>> Then there is the modern vernacular use of "lay" as a synonym for
>> fuck. For instance in Victoria B.C, one might be heard to say, "Did
>> you hear the latest rumor, that liberal David Reilley (Deilley) got
>> laid by a homeless man in a downtown park?
>> David Deilley (Reilley) got laid by a homeless man in a downtown park.
>
> For newcomers, David Deilley is one of Lambourn's odd obsessions. Deilly is a
> twelve-foot-long imaginary hedgehog, but when Lambourn is upset, Deilley can be anything up
> to 800 yards long.
>
M.I. Wakefield
Dec 8, 2011, 8:21:06 PM12/8/11
to
"§pamĐuster" wrote in message news:UadEq.9944$mJ....@newsfe10.iad...
Coming off a bender, Kkkaren?
Or do you have another explanation for playing net-kkkop on an item that's
almost a week old?
==============
Coming off a bender, Kkkaren?
Or do you have another explanation for playing net-kkkop on an item that's
almost a week old?
==============
M.I. Wakefield
Dec 8, 2011, 8:49:30 PM12/8/11
to
"吠amBuster" wrote in message news:FwdEq.14374$c27....@newsfe22.iad...
Coming off a bender, Kkkaren?
Or do you have another explanation for playing net-kkkop on an item that's
almost a week old?
>
Coming off a bender, Kkkaren?
Or do you have another explanation for playing net-kkkop on an item that's
almost a week old?
>
David Johnston
Dec 8, 2011, 9:29:07 PM12/8/11
to
> news:jbes32$p6d$1...@dont-email.me...
>> pronounced "fort".
>
> Sadly
> Look up the word on http://www.merriam-webster.com
In forte we have a word derived from French that in its “strong point”
sense has no entirely satisfactory pronunciation. Usage writers have
denigrated \ˈfȯr-ˌtā\ and \ˈfȯr-tē\ because they reflect the influence
of the Italian-derived 2forte. Their recommended pronunciation \ˈfȯrt\,
however, does not exactly reflect French either: the French would write
the word le fort and would pronounce it more similar to English for. So
you can take your choice, knowing that someone somewhere will dislike
whichever variant you choose. All are standard, however. In British
English \ˈfȯ-ˌtā\ and \ˈfȯt\ predominate; \ˈfȯr-ˌtā\ and \fȯr-ˈtā\ are
probably the most frequent pronunciations in American English.
>> On 12/2/2011 11:02 AM, Clyde Armstrong wrote:
>>> It used to be using the tautological, unacceptable, non-existent
>>> adjective "irregardless" in place of the correct word "regardless".
>>> But one hardly ever hears that mistake any more. This is good.
>>>
>>> Today many fairly-well educated politicians, bureaucrats, teachers at
>>> all level, media celebrities
>>> etc. mispronounce the word "forte" (one's strong point) as "fortay"
>>> which is a musical term meaning strong or
>>> loud. The musical term is spelled the same way, "forte", but must,
>>> according to our good dictionaries, be prononced "fortay", not "fort".
>>> If one is referring to a person's strengh in some area the word
>>> "forte" must be
>>> pronounced "fort".
>>
>> Please provide the name of a dictionary that says it must be
>>> It used to be using the tautological, unacceptable, non-existent
>>> adjective "irregardless" in place of the correct word "regardless".
>>> But one hardly ever hears that mistake any more. This is good.
>>>
>>> Today many fairly-well educated politicians, bureaucrats, teachers at
>>> all level, media celebrities
>>> etc. mispronounce the word "forte" (one's strong point) as "fortay"
>>> which is a musical term meaning strong or
>>> loud. The musical term is spelled the same way, "forte", but must,
>>> according to our good dictionaries, be prononced "fortay", not "fort".
>>> If one is referring to a person's strengh in some area the word
>>> "forte" must be
>>> pronounced "fort".
>>
>> pronounced "fort".
>
> Sadly
> Look up the word on http://www.merriam-webster.com
In forte we have a word derived from French that in its “strong point”
sense has no entirely satisfactory pronunciation. Usage writers have
denigrated \ˈfȯr-ˌtā\ and \ˈfȯr-tē\ because they reflect the influence
of the Italian-derived 2forte. Their recommended pronunciation \ˈfȯrt\,
however, does not exactly reflect French either: the French would write
the word le fort and would pronounce it more similar to English for. So
you can take your choice, knowing that someone somewhere will dislike
whichever variant you choose. All are standard, however. In British
English \ˈfȯ-ˌtā\ and \ˈfȯt\ predominate; \ˈfȯr-ˌtā\ and \fȯr-ˈtā\ are
probably the most frequent pronunciations in American English.
cost cutter
Dec 9, 2011, 12:29:48 AM12/9/11
to
Most common:
not kNowing hOw to use cApital lettErs when tHey write Their fucking
stupiD subjecT Lines, Clyde?
not kNowing hOw to use cApital lettErs when tHey write Their fucking
stupiD subjecT Lines, Clyde?
SaPeIsMa
Dec 9, 2011, 2:40:02 PM12/9/11
to
news:jbrrpg$j94$1...@dont-email.me...
I gave you the link for the pronunciation
And if you were to take the time and look up the word on the Larousse
(French) dictionary, you would then know the CORRECT ORIGINAL pronunciation
with is "Fort" with a non-silent non-accented "e"..
And if you were to take the time and look up the word on the Larousse
(French) dictionary, you would then know the CORRECT ORIGINAL pronunciation
with is "Fort" with a non-silent non-accented "e"..
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